Assessment of malaise in cancer patients treated with radiotherapy

Abstract

In order to assess malaise resulting from radiotherapy, a questionnaire was compiled and administered six times to four groups of cancer patients during a 3-week treatment period. The validity of a malaise scale consisting of four items of the questionnaire was confirmed. The symptoms of malaise, as measured, rapidly increased in magnitude during treatment. Specific physical complaints, as measured with a physical fatigue scale, showed an increase only late in the course of treatment.